Celebrating National Daughters Day on my Daughter's Birthday

My daughter and her birthday bounty

"On the day that you were born the angels got together, and decided to create a dream come true!" --The Carpenters

Today is National Daughters Day, which is perfect because it is also the anniversary of when I became a mom to my oldest child, my daughter. So, this is literally her day! Like most women, becoming a mom was a transformative event. However, in my case, it was truly magical.

I got pregnant about nine months after I had a septic infection. I had been training for a marathon and unbeknownst to me, I had a raging infection raging through my bloodstream. I ran seventeen miles on a Monday and was in the ICU on a Thursday. I stayed in the hospital for a week and after I was discharged, I could barely walk up a flight of stairs. I later learned that I could have died.

Playing at Scene 75 on her birthday! #Scene75

The physicians discontinued my birth control as a result of the entire ordeal and that got me pregnant--well that and Andre. And with that pregnancy, I became reborn. So, if it weren't for the infection, I wouldn't have my precious daughter.

How is that for irony???

Let me tell you, I have never been more grateful for anything in my life. Before I got pregnant, I was on a hamster wheel--running fast, but going nowhere in particular. I had my career, but I lacked a clear focus. When I got pregnant, shit got real and my primary purpose in life to care for her and to protect her.

For the past nine years, I have been doing just that. Life has never been the same. There is no pointless running (figuratively). Each day since I gave birth, I wake up with profound clarity.

One day, I plan to tell my daughter the many ways that she has blessed me and saved me. However, until then, I shall simply say--with my whole heart--"I love you baby. Happy birthday!!!"

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